Vehicle-wheel.



A 770/?11/5 V S Patented July 16, 1912.

' State of Washington,

STATES VEHICLE-WHEEL.

To all whom "it may concern: L Be it known that I, VINCENT SANPHY, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of South Bend, in thecount-y of Pacific and have invented a new Vehicle-VVheel, of which theand Improved full, clear, and exact descripfollowing is a tion.

This invention relates to an improvement in vehicle wheels, andparticularly to resilient wheels, and has for an object the constructionand arrangement of improved means which will present a Wheel structureadapted to resiliently give when the wheel is in use. Another object ofthe invention is the provislon of an improved resilient spoke and rimstructure associated with a pair of sprlngs whereby means are providedwhich will resilientlygive when the wheel 'is pass ing over rough roadsor over obstructions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a wheel which willnot require the use of pneumatic tires and yetwill provide asubstantially equally resilient effect,

the same being taken up by the spring action of a section of the Wheeland auxiliary laterally moving springs associated with the varioussections.

In'carrying out the objects of the invention a shaft is provided formedwith one or more guiding grooves which accommodate projections extendingfrom a pair of washers or rings mounted on the shaft. Encircling theshaft near each end thereof is a spring which normally bears against therings or washers for tending to force the same together and forresiliently resisting outward movement. These springs are held in placeby suitable adjustable members so that the same may act properly at alltimes. To each of the washers or rings are connected one or more spokesmerging into part of the rim of the complete wheel, the parts of the rimbeing connected by suitable connecting bolts whereby a continuousstructure is provided. In order to prevent noise a rubber covering forthe rim is used.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure 1 is a side View of an embodiment of the invention, certain partsbeing shown in section for better disclosing the inven- Specification ofLetters Patent.

' nuts.

way the rim portions 12 and PatentedJuly is, late.

- Application filed January 31, 1912. Serial No. 674,430.

tion; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view approximately onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view throughF-ig. Lapproximately on the line 3 -3; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentarysectional view through Fig. 1 on the line 44.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals 1 indicates a shaftprovided with ways 2 into which is fitted keys or rojections 3 extendingfrom rings or wasiiers 4 and 5. Bearing againsflthe ring 4 is a spring 6which is held in place by a suitable nut 7. The shaft 1 extends into asuitable bracket or other support 8 connected with the vehicle. Bearingagainst the spring 5 is a spring 9 held in place by a nut 10 threaded onto the outer end of the shaft 1. Preferably the nuts 7 and 10 arearranged with right and left threads so that a forward movement of thewheel will not loosen the These nuts are screwed up or un-v screwed inorder to vary the expansion and contraction or resilient effect of thespokes and springs. Rigidly secured to the ring 4 are a plurality ofspokes 11 merging into a rim 12, while secured to the ring 5 are aplurality of spokes 13 merging into the rim 14. It will be evident thatthe spokes 11 and 13 could be made independent of the rims or rather rimportions 12 and 14, and then secured thereto. The spokes 11 and 13 arepreferably made in pairs although a eater or less number could beprovided for each of the rim portions 12 and 14. Inarranging the spokes11 and 13, and the run portions 12 and 14, the same are alternatelyarranged on the wheel as clearly shown in Fig. 1, so that one set ofspokes 13 will be positioned opposite the space between two sets ofspokes 11, and vice versa. In this 14 form a continuous outer rim. Atthe juncture of the outer rims the same overlap at 15 so that when anyone or more of the portions 12 and 14 are compressed or moved inwardlythe sections may give or slightly telescope over each other. It will beseen by the construction and arrangement shown and descrlbed that thespokes 11 and 13 will resiliently give to a certain extent, and thesprings 6 and'9 will resiliently give so that the entire wheel will bemore or less resilient according to the size of the wheel and thethickness of the metal of which the same is made. It will of course beunderstood that in heavy vehicles like large automobiles, the various.

secured in spokes, springs and other parts will be made heavy, and yetgive a satisfactory resilient s of lighter weight the vaeach providedwith lugs 19 at each'end which accommodate bolts 20 which hold thesections together properly. These bolts will prevent any unnecessaryspreading of the parts of the wheel but will permit the various sectionsor portions 12 and 14 to move vtogether. I

Having thus described my invention a I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In a vehicle Wheel, a central shaft, a pair ofrings slidingly, mounted on said shaft, means for resiliently pressingsaid rings toward eachother, a plurality of spokes connected to saidrings, a rim section rigidlyconnected with each of said spokes,

and means for connecting said rim sections together end for end.

2. In a vehicle wheel, a central shaft, a spring arranged at each end ofsaid shaft, a plurality of independentrim sections, means for connectingthe same together end for end, and a plurality of spokes extending fromsaid rim sections to a positio'n adjacent 40 said shaft, and means forcausing saidsprings to act on the ends of said spokes being connectedwith the opposite rim,

whereby the spokes on. one side will be 0pposite the space between thespokes on the opposite side.

4. In a vehicle wheel, a shaft formed with keyways therein, a pair ofrings arranged with projecting lugs fitting into said keyways, a springat each end of said shaft surrounding the same and pressing against saidrings, 'a plurality of independent rim sections arranged to overlap attheir contact points, and spokes for joining said rim sections with saidrings whereby the movement of the rim sections will be resilientlycushioned by said springs upon the spreading of said rings.

In testimony whereof I have signed vmy name to this specification in thepresence of .two subscribing witnesses.

VINCE-NT SANPI-IY.

Witnesses:

JOHN I. OPHELAN, VIo'roR C. COUVRETTE.

